Middlesex county resident convicted in major fentanyl and heroin distribution case

NEWARK, NJ – A resident of Middlesex County has been convicted on charges related to a large-scale fentanyl and heroin distribution network. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger confirmed that Kenneth Strickland, 57, of New Brunswick, New Jersey, faced a jury which found him guilty of all charges presented in the superseding indictment.

Strickland was convicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute significant amounts of narcotics—specifically, 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of heroin—and five additional counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The verdict came swiftly, with the jury deliberating for less than two hours after an eight-day trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti.

The trial revealed that from November 12, 2019, to June 30, 2020, Strickland was an active participant in a drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of fentanyl in various New Jersey locations including Paterson and New Brunswick. Throughout this period, Strickland conducted 16 drug transactions directly with an undercover police officer, providing fentanyl stamped with ominous labels like “MY SHADOW,” “DEATH ROW,” and “VENOM.”

During a coordinated search on June 30, 2020, law enforcement officials seized over 350 grams of fentanyl and various drug paraphernalia from locations in Paterson and Passaic, which were linked to the drug trafficking group. This evidence included stamping tools used to label the drugs sold by Strickland.

Strickland now faces severe penalties for his crimes. The conspiracy charge alone could result in a life sentence and a $10 million fine, while the distribution charges each carry a potential 20-year prison term and a $1 million fine. His sentencing is scheduled for December 12.

Shore News Network Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.